Ghost Stories | Rahdo's Final Thoughts 

This is our (my wife and i) favorite coop game! :) We have all the small expansions and the 2 big ones (we do not much like the last one). Just one remark for Rahdo about the reaction part. If you only react you will mainly lose games. We now play in nightmare mode and we still win 50% of the time. This is about preparation not reacting. Using the tiles to their best effects (for example for witch is almost never used) to go forward and not just to win time. I so wish I could show you... By the way Rahdo, I love your videos!!! :@)

You betcha this game is hard. That is why we got the White Moon expansion...the game is still hard, but it added 'helps' via special effects from rescued family members and the Su-Ling figure which, when placed, cancels out the effects of the central stone of the ghost in front of her. There is other stuff too, (including more difficult ghost incarnations!!!), but they are all optional. Still, bare-bones Ghost Stories is relentless and good for when we just feel like our "brains want to wear punching gloves." Thanks for the excellent review. It is a good thing that you covered this game since many may not be aware of just how harsh it can be.

I was not a fan of the Chinese Ghost Story genre until I saw the first movie of The Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy. It is a well written and well told story with characters you quickly get involved with and care about. Now, I have become a fan and seen several more of this kind of movie. The game seems to follow the action part of the movie in general. I am looking forward to trying and - probably - buying this game. Thanks for a good look at the game and gameplay.

Thanks for going out of your way to get a copy and do this review. I was pretty sure this one wasn't for me and this solidified that impression for me.

Great wrap up, it is a solid game. My wife loves the round-to-round breakdown of what tactics to use, fun to see her in 'Alpha' mode. ;)

Couldn't agree more about the relentless part, but that's one of the reasons it's my favourite game. Thanks for introducing this wonderful game to others.

It was your run through video that made me want to buy this game. I love it, but it's very hard and I have not been able to beat it even once yet, I've played with 2 other people, 3 other people, and have done several solo games, I can't beat it, but I still love it! I'm going to try some of Chong Li's suggestions.

Rahdo, you did a great job with the play through of this game, but I have to say that I couldn't disagree more about your opinion of the art design. The Chinese ghost theme with all the beautiful artwork and colors is part of what makes this game so fun and appealing and it should be applauded, not discouraged, that the designers tried something unique and original here. It is time we begin to move on from the overused theme of dragons, wizards, and orcs. I, personally, feel that I have seen enough medieval theming to last several lifetimes. Keep up the great work!

I'm new to gaming & have just watched this all the way thru & you made it compulsive viewing - stressful, tho! A beautiful but CRUEL beast it seems to be. Am def. tempted to get Ghost Stories & suffer the consequences, just like everyone else. Cheers.

Hey Rahdo. I really have to disagree with you over the claim "you cannot be proactive in this game". I've played it a ton of times with my friend and we've gotten so good at it that we can beat down the ghost population to a ridiculous degree. The key is to really try and take maximum advantage of the special powers of all 4 players (even if they're dummy players) every single turn. Some of these powers, such as the blue double dip ability, the green curse immunity and the red move other players power are downright OP in the right hands. Having the ability to double dip on the herbalist shop (rolling the dice twice for a total of 4 tao tokens per turn) or the buddhist temple (to grab both buddhas at once) is pretty game-breaking. The alternate blue power of doing both actions at once can sometimes allow you to take out 3 ghosts in a single turn (using the sorcerer's hut power and fighting two ghosts on a corner space).

This is one of my favs! I have played this a lot and I have won about half the games I've played (on easy). I think that a lot of people complain about the game's difficulty but after talking to them (or reading their forum posts) most people tend to not understand the rules correctly! When playing with the right rules it isn't THAT bad where it will beat you every time. Of course you still have to play well. Generally I go for haunters immediately. The only danger worse than them is the ghost who locks your tao tokens. You say this game is very reactive but I think it's more of managing whats on the board. Overall I love this game for the challenge and the theme is excellent! Thanks for the review.

Awesome awesome games. Our first Co-op game we bought.

Where do you "trade away" with games you don't want? I bought some of the escape games based on your review and BGG but didn't enjoy the spamy nature and pace - would love to not completely have lost out.

Try to get to see the following movies: Mr Vampire, Mr Vampire pt 4, Encounters of a Spooky Kind, and Spooky Encounters. Once you watch those 4, I think your opinion of the Chinese Ghost movie genre might change. These are some of the funniest and most beautifully choreographed movies you will ever see.

This can't be as hard as pandemic, can it? Love the art style. Might have to add this to my buy sometime list.

I actually really like the artwork, its different from the typical fantasy stuff. But yeah the game is SO hard, fun but a little disheartening. Im tempted to get the expansion just to make it a little easier.

Wonderful game cant stop plying it solo :)

well... had the same ,feeling before to watch than I had yesterday before Alien Frontiers runthrough^^ 2-0 for my feelings ;) I guess... if you love Alien Frontiers, you will also love Ghost Stories (and vice versa). Those two are on the same side of gaming : you do what you have to do, fast (and furious) and you laugh with friends while everything is crushing your efforts. And, yes, my gaming group almost has a "no wood cubes here, sir" policy ;) (Going Going Gone being a VIP, it doesn't care about policy) Whatever, good... review^^ This game is indeed super super tough. Always a challenge, very rarely a win. Resistance is so often so futile it's laughable. have fun & ty

Rahdo: “I would almost rather it be set in a medieval fantasy scenario...” 2019: Last Bastion

Just got it! Hey, have you tried Last Bastion?

Ok I get it, it's based on the movie A Chinese Ghost Story .. which is also excellent btw.

Don't like games with unrelenting mechanics huh. Oh welp, guess we shouldn't be holding out hope for a Yggdrasil runthrough then!

You're able to trade games in in America?? We can't do that in Australia... It's a 'once you buy it, that's it. Tough luck if you don't like it

I find it interesting how hard you find this whereas you don't think ydrassil is that hard, it seems most people are the opposite.

we didn't really enjoy the game that much, i have sold my copy away after a play or 6. As i play with my family, we didn't like how hard it was even on easy setting. I did enjoy playing it, but my wife and daughter didn't like the game that much. Gaming should be al about having fun and when we played this game it didn't seem to be fun. Hard to explain it really, ah well i can see why other ppl really enjoy playing this game, it was just not for us.

This is a great game. However, this game is easy. Must play on hard mode to be challenged. Once you figure out how to own the board it gets easy. Played over 30 games. 29 victories. First game was hardest.